Transference and

Countertransference

DEFIANT PATTERN
NEEDY PATTERN
Transference
Transference
Refuses to cooperate with much of the
Sees therapist as nurturing mother;
therapy. Fights with therapist and
dependent
criticizes her approach.
Sees therapist as non-nurturing mother;
Countertransference
hurt, angry
Feels ineffective and incompetent.
Countertransference
Feels hurt by criticisms.
Overly involved in caring for client
Becomes frustrated with client. Gets
Repulsed by client’s needs
into arguments and power struggles
with client.
NEED-DENYING PATTERN
Transference
PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE
Denies need for nurturing or help from
PATTERN
therapist
Transference
Countertransference
Experiences the therapist as pressuring
Happy that client doesn’t need
her to perform. Consciously wants to
anything
please the therapist, but fails to do
therapy correctly, or if she does, fails
INSECURE PATTERN
to progress in life or denies progress.
Transference
Unconsciously, this is an expression of
Afraid therapist is judgmental of her or
anger at the therapist and an attempt to
doesn’t like her
defeat the therapist, who she
Countertransference
experiences as attempting to control
Overly involved in reassuring client
her and change her.
Repulsed by client’s insecurities
Countertransference
Becomes frustrated with the client for
ISOLATED PATTERN
failing.
Transference
Feels ineffective and incompetent.
Avoidance of personal/emotional
relationship with therapist or denial of
CONTROLLING PATTERN
it
Transference
Countertransference
Refuses to allow therapist to do much.
Treating relationship as if it were only
Must be in control of the therapy.
instrumental
Countertransference
Moving too quickly to connect with the
Gets into a power struggle with the
client
client.
COMPLIANT PATTERN
VICTIM PATTERN
Transference
Transference
Pretends that everything the therapist
Complains to therapist about his
does works.
misery in unconscious attempt to get
Countertransference
therapist to do it for him.
Believes the client’s compliance.
Blames therapist for his problems for
same unconscious reason.
Countertransference
Fails to see victim stance and keeps
trying to reassure and encourage client.
Becomes angry and frustrated at client.
CODEPENDENT PATTERN
Transference
Tries to take care of therapist. Picks up
on clues of therapist’s pain or life
struggles and engages therapist in
talking about them. Notices therapist’s
insecurities and assuages them.
Countertransference
Allows client to take care of him.
SUSPICIOUS PATTERN
Transference
Suspects that the therapist harbors
negative feelings toward him that are
hidden or that the therapist will at
some point turn on him or abandon
him. Doesn’t trust positive things he
sees.
Countertransference
Becomes annoyed at client for lack of
trust and hides this from client, thereby
making client’s fears come true.
Pressures client to trust prematurely.
AGGRESSIVE PATTERN
Transference
Periodically becomes enraged at
therapist over a certain behavior of
situation that develops.
Criticizes the therapist’s handling of
the therapy.
Countertransference
Becomes frightened of client’s anger
and tries to avoid triggering it, leading
to non-therapeutic behavior.
Becomes angry at client and shows it
directly or covertly.
Feels hurt by criticism, leading to
feelings of incompetence.
Argues with client about content of
criticisms.
SELF-JUDGING PATTERN
Transference
Constantly blames himself for poor
performance in therapy and life. Often
expects the therapist to feel the same
way.
Countertransference
Tries to reassure client without directly
working on the inner critic.
Becomes annoyed with client for
constant self-judgment, thereby
contributing to it.
CHARMING PATTERN
Transference
Entertains the therapist with
fascinating stories. Engages the
therapist’s sexual interest. Charms the
therapist.
Countertransference
Becomes more interested in the client’s
charm (in whichever form) than in
engaging in therapy.
BRITTLE FORM OF DEFENSIVE
PATTERN
Transference
Becomes deeply hurt by challenges
from the therapist (or things perceived
that way) and reacts with brittle
defenses.
Countertransference
Tries to reassure the client without
dealing with underlying issues.
Keeps going with the challenge.
Becomes frustrated that client can’t
deal with any challenges.
PRIDEFUL PATTERN
Transference
Expects therapist to appreciate or
admire him.
Acts superior and demeaning toward
therapist.
Countertransference
Therapist admires client or gives
appreciation, thinking client needs
support.
Therapist becomes angry at client for
grandiosity or condescension and
challenges him in an unsupportive
way.
ENTITLED PATTERN
Transference
Client expects special favors from
therapist around money, time, etc.
Client expects therapist to give him
exactly what he wants.
In making these demands, the client
completely disregard any needs or
limits the therapist might have.
Countertransference
Therapist gives in to client’s demands.
Therapist becomes angry at client’s
demands and at therapist’s needs being
ignored.